International Journal of Public Health

Publications in this journal

• Article: Impact of economic crisis on mental health of migrant workers: what happened with migrants who came to Spain to work?

  Andrés A Agudelo-Suárez, Elena Ronda, María Luisa Vázquez-Navarrete, Ana M García, José Miguel Martínez, Fernando G Benavides
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: To assess changes in mental health in a sample of migrant workers after the eruption of the economic crisis in Spain. METHODS: 318 migrant workers were interviewed. Mental health, sociodemographic, and economic crisis related variables were obtained through face-to-face (2008) and phone (2011) interviews. Prevalence of poor mental health (PMH) was compared (2011-2008) and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted. RESULTS: Change in prevalence of PMH was higher in men (aOR 4.63; 95 % CI 2.11-10.16). Subgroups of men showing the largest detrimental mental health effects were: unemployed, with low salaries (≤1,200 euros) and those reporting family burden. An increase of PMH was found in women, without significant associations. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health of migrant workers in Spain has worsened during the economic crisis.
  International Journal of Public Health 05/2013;
• Article: Wishful thinking will not do it! Practitioners and decision-makers need tools to implement evidence-informed public health.

  Louise Potvin
  International Journal of Public Health 05/2013;
• Article: Young children's screen habits are associated with consumption of sweetened beverages independently of parental norms.

  Steingerdur Olafsdottir, Gabriele Eiben, Hillevi Prell, Sabrina Hense, Lauren Lissner, Staffan Mårild, Lucia Reisch, Christina Berg
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the associations between children's screen habits and their consumption of sweetened beverages. Because parents might be disposed to regulate their child's screen and dietary habits in a similar direction, our specific aim was to examine whether these associations were independent of parental norms. METHODS: In the Swedish sample of the European Identification and prevention of dietary and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants (IDEFICS) study, parents filled in questionnaires about their 2 to 9-year-old children's (n = 1,733) lifestyle and diets. RESULTS: Associations between screen habits and sweetened beverage consumption were found independent of parental norms regarding sweetened beverages. A longitudinal analysis revealed that sweetened beverage consumption at 2-year follow-up was predicted by exposure to commercial TV at baseline (OR 1.4, 95 % CI 1.1-1.9). Cross-sectional analysis showed that the likelihood of consuming sweetened beverages at least 1-3 times per week increased for each hour/day watching television (OR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.2-1.9), and for being exposed to commercials (OR 1.6, 95 % CI 1.3-2.1). TV viewing time and commercial exposure contributed to the associations independently of each other. CONCLUSIONS: The results strengthen the assumption that it is possible to influence children's dietary habits through their TV habits.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Goal attainment scaling as a tool to enhance quality in community-based health promotion.

  Petra Kolip, Ina Schaefer
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Goal attainment scaling (GAS) is an individual approach for measuring changes in clinical interventions. We adopted GAS as a tool for community-based health promotion to support practitioners in formulating and monitoring their intervention goals. METHODS: Eleven regional health promotion networks were invited to set project-specific goals, following Kiresuk and Sherman's rules for goal setting. Follow-up interviews on goal attainment were conducted twenty-one months later. In addition, each network was interviewed on usage and applicability. RESULTS: In total, 35 goals were set. The expected outcomes were reached for the majority of projects. CONCLUSIONS: GAS has been proven to be a useful instrument for quality assurance as it helps with setting and monitoring goals and sub-goals.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Correlates of objectively measured physical activity in adults and older people: a cross-sectional study of population-based sample of adults and older people living in Norway.

  Bjørge Herman Hansen, Yngvar Ommundsen, Ingar Holme, Elin Kolle, Sigmund Alfred Anderssen
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to identify correlates of objectively measured physical activity and to determine whether the explanatory power of the correlates differed with sex, weight status or level of education. METHODS: Physical activity was assessed objectively in 3,867 participants, aged 20-85 years, for a consecutive 7 days using the ActiGraph GT1M activity monitor. Demographic and biological variables and levels of psychological, social environmental and physical environmental correlates were self-reported. RESULTS: The complete set of correlates explained 18.6 % (p < 0.001) of the variance in overall physical activity. Age and physical activity identity were the most important factors, explaining 4.8 and 3.2 % of the variance, respectively, whereas social environmental and physical environmental correlates did not significantly increase the amount of explained variance. Small interaction effects between demographic and biological variables and the correlates were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Self-efficacy, perceived behavioural control and physical activity identity might be important targets for intervention. Intervention efforts aimed at influencing psychological correlates of physical activity may prove equally effective regardless of sex, weight status and level of education.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Association between variables used in the field substitution and post-stratification adjustment in the Belgian health interview survey and non-response.

  Johan Van der Heyden, Stefaan Demarest, Koen Van Herck, Dirk De Bacquer, Jean Tafforeau, Herman Van Oyen
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Field substitution and post-stratification adjustment have been proposed to reduce non-response bias in population surveys. We investigated if variables involved in those techniques in the Belgian health interview survey 2004 are associated with non-response and assessed the impact of field substitution and post-stratification adjustment on the survey results. METHODS: Data were obtained from all selected households (n = 12.204). The association between non-response and the selected variables was explored through multilevel logistic regression models with municipality and statistical sector as random effects. RESULTS: All investigated variables were significantly related with non-response. Especially households that could not be contacted differed substantially from those who participated. Only post-stratification had a clear impact on the survey results. CONCLUSIONS: Even if variables used in the field substitution procedure of health surveys are strongly associated with non-response, the impact of field substitution on the survey results may be minimal, either because there was no bias of relevance or it was not captured. The usefulness of field substitution to correct for non-response bias in population health surveys seems to be quite limited.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: A community-based oral health self-care intervention for Hispanic families.

  Pamela C Hull, Michelle C Reece, Marian Patton, Janice Williams, Bettina M Beech, Juan R Canedo, Roger Zoorob
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: A community-based intervention is described that targets oral health self-care practices among Hispanic children in the United States and is being tested in an ongoing trial. Descriptive results of baseline oral health variables are presented. METHODS: As of January 2013, 284 Hispanic children of ages 5-7 enrolled in the Healthy Families Study in Nashville, TN, USA. Families are randomized to one of two culturally appropriate interventions. RESULTS: At baseline, 69.6 % of children brushed at least twice daily, and 40.6 % brushed before bed daily. One-third of parents did not know if their children's toothpaste contained fluoride. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention fills the need for community-based interventions to improve oral health self-care practices that are culturally appropriate in Hispanic families.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: "I can't do this, it's too much": building social inclusion in cancer diagnosis and treatment experiences of Aboriginal people, their carers and health workers.

  Carla Treloar, Rebecca Gray, Loren Brener, Clair Jackson, Veronica Saunders, Priscilla Johnson, Magdalena Harris, Phyllis Butow, Christy Newman
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Social inclusion theory has been used to understand how people at the margins of society engage with service provision. The aim of this paper was to explore the cancer care experiences of Aboriginal people in NSW using a social inclusion lens. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 Aboriginal people with cancer, 18 carers of Aboriginal people and 16 health care workers. RESULTS: Participants' narratives described experiences that could be considered to be situational factors in social inclusion such as difficulties in managing the practical and logistic aspects of accessing cancer care. Three factors were identified as processes of social inclusion that tied these experiences together including socio-economic security, trust (or mistrust arising from historic and current experience of discrimination), and difficulties in knowing the system of cancer treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These three factors may act as barriers to the social inclusion of Aboriginal people in cancer treatment. This challenges the cancer care system to work to acknowledge these forces and create practical and symbolic responses, in partnership with Aboriginal people, communities and health organisations.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Systematic review of HIV prevention interventions in China: a health communication perspective.

  Zhiwen Xiao, Seth M Noar, Lily Zeng
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: To examine whether communication strategies and principles have been utilized in the HIV prevention intervention programs conducted in China. METHODS: Comprehensive literature searches were conducted using PsycINFO, Medline, and Academic Search Complete with combinations of a number of keywords. Studies were included if they (1) were conducted in China and published prior to October 2011; (2) tested interventions promoting HIV/sexual risk reduction; and (3) reported empirical outcome evaluations on HIV knowledge, condom use and other condom-related variables. Data on 11 dimensions were extracted and analyzed, including formative research, theory, message targeting, messenger and channels, process evaluation, evaluation design, outcome measures. RESULTS: The majority of the 45 intervention studies were not theory-based, did not report conducting formative research or process evaluation, used pretest-posttest control group designs, combined nonmedia channels, printed and visual materials, and employed HIV knowledge and condom use as outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Many HIV prevention interventions in China have been successful in reducing HIV risk-related outcomes. This literature has its weaknesses; however, the current review illuminates gaps in the literature and points to important future directions for research.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: How important are paper copies of questionnaires? Testing invitations modes when studying social inequalities in smoking among young adults.

  Thierry Gagné, Rowena Agouri, Michael Cantinotti, Anis Boubaker, Katherine L Frohlich
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Evaluating the effectiveness of heat warning systems: systematic review of epidemiological evidence.

  Ghasem Toloo, Gerard Fitzgerald, Peter Aitken, Kenneth Verrall, Shilu Tong
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: To review the existing research on the effectiveness of heat warning systems (HWSs) in saving lives and reducing harm. METHODS: A systematic search of major databases was conducted, using "heat, heatwave, high temperature, hot temperature, OR hot climate" AND "warning system". RESULTS: Fifteen articles were retrieved. Six studies asserted that fewer people died of excessive heat after HWS implementation. HWS was associated with reduction in ambulance use. One study estimated the benefits of HWS to be $468 million for saving 117 lives compared to $210,000 costs of running the system. Eight studies showed that mere availability of HWS did not lead to behavioral changes. Perceived threat of heat dangers to self/others was the main factor related to heeding warnings and taking proper actions. However, costs and barriers associated with taking protective actions, such as costs of running air conditioners, were of significant concern particularly to the poor. CONCLUSIONS: Research in this area is limited. Prospective designs applying health behavior theories should establish whether HWS can produce the health benefits they are purported to achieve by identifying the target vulnerable groups.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Are barriers in accessing health services in the Roma population associated with worse health status among Roma?

  Pavol Jarcuska, Daniela Bobakova, Jan Uhrin, Ladislav Bobak, Ingrid Babinska, Peter Kolarcik, Zuzana Veselska, Andrea Madarasova Geckova
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: The health of Roma has been found to be poorer than that of the majority population. The aim of this study was to explore the differences between Roma and non-Roma regarding perceived barriers in accessing health services. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the association between self-rated health status and Roma ethnicity and explore to what degree barriers in accessing health services explain this association. METHODS: We used data from the cross-sectional HepaMeta study conducted in 2011 in Slovakia. The final sample comprised 452 Roma (mean age 34.7; 35.2 % men) and 403 (mean age 33.5; 45.9 % men) non-Roma respondents. RESULTS: Roma ethnicity was found to be significantly associated with poorer self-rated health status. A considerable part of this association can be explained by barriers in accessing health services as perceived by Roma. CONCLUSIONS: Worse health in Roma is partially mediated by worse access to health services, apart from a large educational gap between Roma living in settlements and the majority population. Interventions should focus not only on health literacy among Roma but also on the health care system and health care professionals.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Changes in family socio-economic status as predictors of self-efficacy in 13-year-old Polish adolescents.

  Joanna Mazur, Agnieszka Malkowska-Szkutnik, Izabela Tabak
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the impact that raised mother's education and a relative change in family affluence might have on adolescent general self-efficacy (GSE). METHODS: Data on 600 children born in Poland in January 1995 and their families were used. Data from early childhood and adolescence (2008) were considered and the change between these two periods was determined. RESULTS: Family affluence increased in 37.3 % of families with mothers, who had raised their education level (12.6 % of the sample), in comparison to 26.8 % in the group with no change, p < 0.001. The average GSE scores in those groups were 73.4 and 68.1, respectively, p < 0.001. In the best linear regression model adjusted for gender, the independent predictors of GSE turned out to be mother's education change and the family's current affluence. CONCLUSIONS: Raised mother's education level may encourage building up developmental assets in older children. Based on the structural model, where self-efficacy is the mediator of the relationship between socio-economic status change and the quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10) these results may be of importance in further research.
  International Journal of Public Health 04/2013;
• Article: Migration and geographical inequalities in health in the Netherlands: an investigation of age patterns.

  Birthe Jongeneel-Grimen, Mariël Droomers, Karien Stronks, J A M van Oers, Anton E Kunst
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: This paper estimates, for six different age groups, whether and how migration influences inequalities in health between deprived and non-deprived neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. METHODS: Data were accessed from the Netherlands Housing Survey 2006. Using multi-level logistic regression analyses, we compared the health of migrants with that of nonmigrants in the area of origin and assessed the role of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Next, we assessed the magnitude of health differences between deprived versus non-deprived areas among migrants and non-migrants. RESULTS: For many age groups, migrants into non-deprived areas were healthier and migrants into deprived areas had similar levels of health compared with non-migrant populations in the area of origin. These differences in health were not explained by demographic and socio-economic characteristics. For all ages and for people aged 25-34 years we found smaller area inequalities in health among migrants compared with non-migrants. For most other age groups, about equally large differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: For most age groups, the results do not provide empirical support to the expectation that migration would enlarge health differences between deprived and non-deprived neighbourhoods.
  International Journal of Public Health 03/2013;
• Article: Improving weight status in childhood: results from the eat well be active community programs.

  Tahna Pettman, Anthea Magarey, Nadia Mastersson, Annabelle Wilson, James Dollman
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: The eat well be active Community Programs (ewba) aimed to prevent obesity among children aged 0-18 years in two Australian communities from 2006 to 2010. METHODS: ewba was a multi-strategy intervention in children's settings. The evaluation was quasi-experimental, including a before and after survey with intervention (INT) and non-randomised comparison (COMP) communities. Outcome measures included BMI-z score (zBMI) and overweight/obesity prevalence in children aged 4-5 years; and zBMI, waist circumference (WC) z-score and overweight/obesity prevalence in children aged10-12 years. RESULTS: After 3 years, among the 4-5 years old, mean zBMI was significantly lower in both INT (-0.20, p < 0.05) and COMP (-0.15, p < 0.05), however, changes were not significantly different between INT and COMP. There was a larger reduction in overweight/obesity prevalence in INT (-6.3 %) compared to COMP (-3.7 %) (p < 0.05, χ (2) test). In the 10-12 years old, mean zBMI did not change significantly in INT or COMP. There was a significant reduction in WC z-score in INT (-0.17, p < 0.05) but not in COMP (-0.10, p = NS), although not significantly different between INT and COMP (p = 0.092). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the ewba community intervention had a moderate impact, showing modest improvements in weight status at 3-year follow-up.
  International Journal of Public Health 03/2013;
• Article: A country divided? Regional variation in mortality in Ukraine.

  Adrianna Murphy, Nataliia Levchuk, Andrew Stickley, Bayard Roberts, Martin McKee
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: We set out to identify the contribution of various causes of death to regional differences in life expectancy in Ukraine. METHODS: Mortality data by oblast (province) were obtained from the State Statistical Committee of Ukraine. The contribution of various causes of death to differences in life expectancy between East, West and South Ukraine was estimated using decomposition. RESULTS: In 2008, life expectancy for men in South (61.8 years) and East Ukraine (61.2 years) was lower than for men in West Ukraine (64.0 years). A similar pattern was observed among women. This was mostly due to deaths from infectious disease and external causes among young adults, and cardio- and cerebro-vascular deaths among older adults. Deaths from TB among young adults contribute most to differences in life expectancy. CONCLUSIONS: Deaths due to infectious disease, especially TB, play an important role in the gap in life expectancy between regions in Ukraine. These deaths are entirely preventable-further research is needed to identify what has 'protected' individuals in Western Ukraine from the burden of deaths experienced by their Southern and Eastern counterparts.
  International Journal of Public Health 03/2013;
• Article: Assessing population-wide behaviour change: concordance of 10-year trends in self-reported and observed sun protection.

  Suzanne J Dobbinson, Kris Jamsen, Helen G Dixon, Matthew J Spittal, Magdalena Lagerlund, John E Lipscomb, Natalie L Herd, Melanie A Wakefield, David J Hill
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  ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Increases in socially desirable responses in self-reports might occur in the context of ongoing public education. We examine concordance of trends in two long-term studies monitoring population impact for SunSmart. METHODS: One study employed telephone interviews of Melbourne residents; the other entailed observations at public recreation venues across Melbourne. The studies assessed people's sun protection on identical weekend dates (Nw = 33 dates). Data from five summers between 1992 and 2001 (n ~ 23,000 individuals) were analysed. A body cover index score was calculated for participants on each date. Outcomes were aggregated separately for Saturdays and Sundays by date and year. Regression analyses tested whether these trends differed by survey method. RESULTS: The pattern of change in body cover over time was similar for both surveys. Self-reported body cover was consistently higher than observed body cover, suggesting that social desirability bias may be present. Regression analyses showed no divergence between self-reported and observed trends in mean body cover, suggesting no evidence of significant increased social desirability bias in self-reporting over time. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that self-report offers a valid means of assessing change in a population's sun protection compliance over time, at least when self-reports are precisely focussed for time and activity context.
  International Journal of Public Health 03/2013;